U.S. Senator Joni Ernst:
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says the USDA’s response to New World screwworm has been adequate.
“I know that Secretary (Rollins) is working on a program with sterile flies,” she said, “that will help, once again, eradicate the problem.”
The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield that officials have been working to keep the pest contained in the southern U.S.
“The further north you go, the safer we are because of the temperatures here,” Ernst said. “The lower the temperature gets, the better protected we are from the New World screwworm.”
Ernst says the U.S. needs more assistance from government officials in Mexico.
“To allow us access to those regions where the screwworm has been located,” she said. “The cartels are proving to be a bit of an issue.”
There have been 15 cases of New World screwworm in the southern U.S. since June 3rd.
